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GONG HEY FAT CHOY!What to Watch Out After Chinese New Year Feast。。。(What nutritionist suggests)

Writer's picture: EditorEditor

Updated: Feb 5

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for general health and wellbeing reference only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a licensed healthcare professional regarding your specific health concerns or conditions.


The Chinese New Year is a time of celebration, family gatherings, and indulgent feasts. From carrot cake and New Year rice cake (nian gao) to sweets, chocolates, and other festive treats, it’s common to go overboard during this holiday. While these delicacies bring joy, the excessive intake of sugar, fats, and sodium can take a toll on your health.

In this blog post, we’ll highlight the key health metrics you should monitor after the holiday and provide nutritionist-approved tips to get your health back on track.


How Holiday Feasts Impact Your Health

The traditional dishes we enjoy during Chinese New Year are often high in calories, saturated fats, sodium, and sugar. Here’s how these indulgences can affect key health metrics:

1. Blood Pressure

  • Festive foods like carrot cake and fried snacks are often loaded with sodium, which can elevate your blood pressure.

  • A temporary rise in blood pressure during the holidays may not seem alarming, but consistently high levels increase the risk of hypertension and stroke.

2. Heart Rate

  • Overeating and consuming high-sugar foods like New Year cakes and chocolates can lead to an elevated heart rate, as your body works harder to digest the excess food.

  • Coupled with alcohol intake, this can strain your cardiovascular system.

3. Body Composition

  • The high calorie content of festive treats can lead to an increase in body fat percentage, especially around the abdominal area, which contributes to obesity-related risks like diabetes and heart disease.

  • A lack of physical activity during the holidays further exacerbates weight gain.

4. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) & Vascular Age

  • PWV, a measure of arterial stiffness, can worsen due to excessive sodium and sugar intake, which may cause inflammation and vascular aging.

  • High-fat meals can also contribute to arterial plaque buildup, increasing your vascular age beyond your chronological age.


What to Watch Out For Post-Holiday

After the indulgent feasts, it’s important to monitor your vitals to ensure your cardiovascular and metabolic health remain in check. Here’s what to focus on:

  1. Blood Pressure: Check if your blood pressure remains elevated (above 120/80 mmHg) even after the holiday. Persistent high readings indicate a need for lifestyle adjustments.

  2. Heart Rate: Monitor your resting heart rate (RHR). A higher-than-normal rate (above 100 bpm) could signal stress on your heart.

  3. Body Composition: Use a smart scale to track changes in body fat percentage, muscle mass, and water retention. These metrics provide a clearer picture of how the holiday impacted your physical health.

  4. PWV & Vascular Age: If you have access to a device like the Withings Body Scan, measure your PWV and vascular age. A significant rise could indicate stress on your arteries.



Fresh produce always the best choice
Fresh produce an integral part of health diet

Nutritionist-Approved Tips to Bounce Back

Now that the celebrations are over, it’s time to focus on recovery and restoring balance to your body. Here’s how to improve your vital health metrics:

1. Reduce Sodium and Sugar Intake

  • Cut back on salty foods, processed snacks, and sugary desserts. Replace them with fresh fruits and vegetables, which are high in potassium and help regulate blood pressure.

  • Opt for natural sweeteners like honey or dates instead of refined sugar.

2. Stay Hydrated

  • Drinking plenty of water helps flush out excess sodium and reduces water retention, improving your body composition.

  • Herbal teas like green tea or chrysanthemum tea can help detoxify your body and support vascular health.

3. Focus on Heart-Healthy Foods

  • Incorporate foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds, to improve arterial elasticity and lower PWV.

  • Include whole grains, legumes, and foods high in antioxidants to combat inflammation and reduce your vascular age.

4. Get Moving

  • Resume physical activity with light exercises like walking, yoga, or cycling to help stabilize your heart rate and improve blood circulation.

  • Gradually add strength training to rebuild muscle mass lost during the sedentary holiday period.

5. Monitor Your Health Regularly

  • Use devices like smart blood pressure monitors, smart scales, and PWV trackers to keep an eye on your recovery progress.

  • Logging your readings in a health app like Withings Health Mate allows you to track trends and adjust your lifestyle accordingly.


Take Control of Your Post-Holiday Health

The Chinese New Year is a time for celebration, but your health should not take a backseat. By monitoring key metrics like blood pressure, heart rate, body composition, PWV, and vascular age, you can catch early warning signs and make informed decisions to improve your health.

Let this post-holiday period be a time for renewal—not just for your goals, but for your health as well. Take small steps every day, and you’ll be back to your best self in no time!



 

Disclaimer: This blog is intended for general health and wellbeing reference only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a licensed healthcare professional regarding your specific health concerns or conditions.

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